Australia are unlikely to play in Pakistan soon despite the International Cricket Council pushing for more international cricket to be held there, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland says.
Pakistan are currently hosting a World XI side for three T20 games in Lahore, which has been hailed a watershed moment for the country to prove they can host international teams.
Sutherland remains sceptical about the possibility of Australia playing in Pakistan in October 2018 when the two teams are scheduled to meet.
"There's a whole lot of steps in that process," Sutherland said on Friday morning in Sydney.
"I don't see in the short term there are any plans for us to play in Pakistan".
Australians George Bailey, Ben Cutting and Time Paine are part of the World XI squad for the series, which will go down to a decider on Friday night (early Saturday morning AEST).
ICC chief executive David Richardson said the World XI series was an "important stepping stone" for Pakistan to earn the "confidence of the international sporting community".
The ICC has said it will provide financial assistance for security needs.
Barring a limited-overs series against Zimbabwe in 2015, Pakistan has not hosted international cricket since militants attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009, wounding six players and killing two civilians and six security officials.
Australia hasn't played there since 1998, when they won a three test series 1-0 and Mark Taylor scored his famous 334 not out.
The two teams have met in England or the UAE over the past decade when Pakistan have been the home team.
Share
